Portable mortar



. May 20, 1952 R. POSEY 2,597,031

PORTABLE MORTAR Filed June 26, 1951 a sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Blygaymond Hasey ATTORNEY R. POSEY PORTABLE MORTAR May 20, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1951 INVENTOR.

gay/ 20nd Pose Q s Q w fi Nvmw v R. POSEY PORTABLE MORTAR May 20, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 55 Filed June 26, 1951,

I? i INVENTOR.

g y/nond P0 9? ATTORNFY Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sclaims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The invention relates to a mortar or the like firearm and more particularly to a light-weight, highly mobile, hand-held mortar.

The mortar of the present invention fires standard ammunition, is simple and economical in construction, can be quickly assembled and disassembled and can be aimed either directly at the target or indirectly between the approximate limits of and 85 of elevation. For this purpose a suitable sight may be provided on the muzzle half of the barrel.

The elongated bottom of the base cap of the mortar provides a firing mechanism housing which contains the continuous pull firing mechanism which is semi-automatic and is operated by a trigger or firing lever. The housing encloses the entire firing mechanism and protects it from damage and prevents the entrance of mud and water.

The location of the trigger or firing lever is at a point intermediate the ends of the barrel of the mortar and spaced a substantial distance in advance of the firing mechanism housing. This provides for a steadier and more natural firing position to be assumed by the gunner than in known mortars in which the trigger is located adjacent the base of the mortar. This is true for all positions and angles from which the mortar is fired. The advanced location of the trigger or firing lever on the barrel allows the trigger hand of the gunner to assist in holding and steadying the mortar. When firing at a high angle from soft ground the base plate of the mortar tends to sink further into the ground with the firing of each round. The advanced location of the trigger lever on the barrel substantially prevents the mortar being rendered inoperative by sinking into soft ground, which frequently occurs with known mortars having the trigger near the base.

The trigger lever is designed to be operated by engaging it with several fingers of the hand instead of by a single finger.

Connection between the firing lever or trigger and the firing mechanism is provided by a connecting rod, having a casing or housing therefor.

A hand guard is provided on the connecting rod casing and facilitates the actuation of the trigger and the firing of the weapon. A folding carrying handle is also mounted on the connecting rod casing. This is important particularly when the mortar tube is too hot from firing tograsp in the hands for carrying. When not in use, the handle can be' folded against the barrel of the weapon. A rectangular curved base plate is provided strengthened by ribs on the under side, and longer on one side to facilitate seating when firing at low angles. I

An object of the invention is the provision of a reliable and durable light-weight, mobile handheld mortar.

Another object is to provide a mortar of simple and economical construction which can be readily assembled and disassembled without need of tools.

A further object is the provision of a firing mechanism housing at the base of the mortar which will enclose the entire firing mechanism and protect it from damage and prevent the entrance of mud and water.

Another object is to provide for a steady and natural firing position to be assumed by the gunner, and to enable the gunners trigger hand to assist in holding and steadying the mortar and to enable the gunner to engage and operate the trigger lever with several fingers of his hand.

Another object is to provide means for readily holding and transporting the portable mortar particularly when the barrel has become hot from firing.

Another object is the provision of a novel and eflicient firing mechanism which is dependable and of rugged construction and easily assembled and disassembled.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appre-, ciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the exemplary embodiment set forth in the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a mortar embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mortar.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a rearward portion of the mortar shown in Fig. 2, with the firing mechanism in retracted position ready to fire.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a forward portion of the mortar shown in Fig. 2, andshowing the parts in retracted position ready to fire.

Fig. 5 is sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is sectional view substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary partly sectional view showing the trigger cam and connecting rod cam in retracted position ready to operate for firing.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a mortar or the like firearm having a barrel and a firing mechanism housing secured to the barrel, a striker with firing pin and spring mounted in said housing, a scar and means urging the sear into engagement with the striker, movably mounted means for re leasing said sear, a connecting rod disposed laterally of and parallel to said barrel and connected at one end to said movably mounted sear releasing means, said connecting rod being of a length extending forwardly a substantial distance along said barrel, means mounting said connecting rod for longitudinal sliding movement, trigger means mounted on said barrel intermediate the ends thereof and spaced a substantial distance from said firing mechanism housing, said trigger means being in operative engagement with the forward end of said longitudinally slidable connecting rod for moving said connecting rod forwardly to move the sear releasing means for firing, and a spring mounted in engagement with said connecting rod for returning the connecting rod and sear releasing means and striker to rearward position.

2. In combination in a mortar or the like firearm having a barrel and a firing mechanism housing secured to the barrel, a striker with firing pin and spring mounted in said housing, a scar and means urging the sear into engagement with the striker, a scar cam for moving the sear out of engagement with the striker to release the striker and firing pin, sear cam actuating means including a member extending laterally from said sear cam, a connecting rod disposed laterally of and parallel to said barrel and. connected at one end to said laterally extending member of said sear cam actuating means, said connecting rod being of a length extending forwardly a substantial distance along said barrel, means mounting said connecting rod for longitudinal movement, trigger means mounted on said barrel intermediate the ends thereof and spaced a substantial distance from said firing mechanism housing, said trigger means being disposed in operative engagement with the forward end of said connecting rod for moving said connecting rod forwardly to move the sear cam actuating means to actuate the sear cam for firing, and a spring mounted in engagement with said connecting rod for returning the connecting rod and sear cam actuating means and striker to rearward position.

3. In apparatus according to claim 1, an elongated trigger and connecting rod housing connected at its rear end to said firing mechanism housing and at its forward end to said barrel, said connecting rod being slidably received within said trigger and connecting rod housing and said trigger means being pivotally mounted in said housing, said connecting rod having a longitudinal bore therein, said connecting rod having a longitudinal slot therein communicating with said longitudinal bore, said trigger means comprising a lever pivoted in said trigger and connecting rod housing and having an arm extending into said slot in said connecting rod for said operative engagement therewith.

4. In apparatus according to claim 1, an elongated trigger and connecting rod housing connected at its rear end to said firing mechanism housing and at its forward end to said barrel, said connecting rod being slidably received within said trigger and connecting rod housing and said trigger means being pivotally mountedin said housing, said connecting rod having a longitudinal bore therein, said connecting rod having a longitudinal slot therein communicating with said longitudinal bore, said trigger means comprising a lever pivoted in said trigger and connecting rod housing and having an arm extending into said slot in said connecting rod for said operative engagement therewith, a plug received in the end of said connecting rod and having a cam surface in engagement with said arm of said trigger lever.

5. In apparatus according to claim 1, an elongated trigger and connecting rod housing connected at its rear end to said firing mechanism housing and at its forward end to said barrel, said connecting rod being slidably received within said trigger and connecting rod housing and said trigger means being pivotally mounted in said housing, said connecting rod having a longitudinal bore therein, said connecting rod having a longitudinal slot therein communicating with said longitudinal bore, said trigger means comprising a lever pivoted in said trigger and connecting rod housing and having an arm extending into said slot in said connecting rod for said operative engagement therewith, said longitudinal bore of said connecting rod terminating in a wall at the rear end of the bore, said spring comprising a coil disposed in said bore and seating at one end against said Wall, a bearing pin fixed in said connecting rod housing and extending through said longitudinal slot in said connecting rod, said bearing pin providing a stop for the forward end of said coil spring.

6. In apparatus according to claim 1, an elongated trigger and connecting rod housing connected at its rear end to said firing mechanism housing and at its forward end to said barrel, said connecting rod being slidably received within said trigger and connecting rod housing and said trigger means being pivotally mounted in said housing, a tubular hand guard surrounding said connecting rod housing and disposed adjacent the handle arm of said trigger means to aid in the operation of said trigger means and in steadying the weapon by the trigger hand of the gunner.

7. In apparatus according to claim 1, an elongated trigger and connecting rod housing connected at its rear end to said firing mechanism housing and at its forward end to said barrel, and a, carrying handl rotatably mounted on said connecting rod housing for rotation between an outward carrying position and an inward folded position against the barrel to be out of the way during firing of the weapon.

8. In apparatus according to claim 2, said striker having a longitudinally extending transverse slot therethrough receiving said laterally extending member of said sear cam and permitting forward movement thereof relative to said striker, said striker having a shoulder at the rear end of its said slot disposed to be engaged by said laterally extending member of said sear cam to move the striker rearwardly upon release of the trigger and return of the sear cam to rearward position by said connecting rod spring.

RAYMOND POSEY.

No references cited. 

